https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/The latest news by Matthew Watkins.enTue, 14 Oct 2025 13:52:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/14/tribcast-robert-roberson/In this week’s episode, the TribCast crew is joined by Tribune reporter Kayla Guo to break down the evidence in the Robert Roberson death penalty case.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 14 Oct 2025 13:52:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/14/tribcast-robert-roberson/Shackled and chained, Robert Roberson is led out of court by an Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy on July 16, 2025 in Palestine.Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/30/tribcast-Texas-renewable-energy/This week, Matthew and Eleanor speak with Eric Goff, founder of an energy policy advising firm, about the growth of wind and solar power in Texas and whether it will continue after recent federal efforts targeting the industry.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 30 Sep 2025 18:43:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/30/tribcast-Texas-renewable-energy/Wind turbines operate outside the West Texas town of Eden on Aug. 25, 2023 in.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/tribcast-STAAR-test-replacement/In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Tribune reporter Sneha Dey and the Commit Partnership’s Bridget Worley about the changes to the state’s standardized test.By Matthew WatkinsWed, 10 Sep 2025 07:36:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/09/tribcast-STAAR-test-replacement/Austin Voices for Education and Youth hosts a summer camp at the Dobie Middle School for students that attend three Austin ISD schools at risk of closure, on July 23, 2025.Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/tribcast-sid-miller/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with Texas Tribune reporter Kate McGee about her recent investigative reporting in to Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and his staff.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 02 Sep 2025 13:21:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/tribcast-sid-miller/Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller speaks during a Make America Great Rally on Aug. 1, 2024, at the Burleson County Expo Center in Caldwell.Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/tribcast-kerrville-floods-legislature-response/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Tribune climate reporter Emily Foxhall about the emotional pleas Camp Mystic parents made to state lawmakers and analyze the proposed new laws in response to the Kerrville floods.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 26 Aug 2025 15:26:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/tribcast-kerrville-floods-legislature-response/A flood gauge jammed with debris by a creek bridge near Hunt on July 9, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/tribcast-house-democrats-expelled-quorum-break/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor ask University of Houston law professor David Froomkin to help them break down the legal cases seeking to remove 13 Democrats from the Texas House.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 12 Aug 2025 13:47:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/12/tribcast-house-democrats-expelled-quorum-break/State Rep. Ramón Romero, D-Fort Worth, speaks at a press conference with members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at Painters District Council 30 in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/tribcast-texas-democrats-quorum-break/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor speak with state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, about her and her colleagues’ decision to flee the state, the potential financial and criminal penalties and her opposition to the state’s proposed new congressional map.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 05 Aug 2025 15:37:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/tribcast-texas-democrats-quorum-break/State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, looks at a packet of maps during a Congressional Redistricting committee meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/tribcast-texas-democrats/In part one of our two-part look at the 2026 Democratic and Republican primaries, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 22 Jul 2025 15:18:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/22/tribcast-texas-democrats/From left: State Rep. James Talarico, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke answer questions from the press outside of Stable Hall in San Antonio after a town hall in San Antonio on June 27, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/tribcast-floods-hill-country/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor are joined by meteorologist Matt Lanza to discuss the deadly Texas floods. How did they happen? Could people have been better warned? And what can keep this region safe in the future?By Matthew WatkinsTue, 08 Jul 2025 15:29:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/08/tribcast-floods-hill-country/Uprooted trees next to the Ingram Dam on the Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025 in Ingram.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/02/texas-tribune-politics-investigations/In the last few months, we’ve restructured our teams and made new hires that will help us build on our reputation as the state’s go-to source for news on Texas government and politics.By Matthew WatkinsWed, 02 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/02/texas-tribune-politics-investigations/The Texas Capitol on June 30, 2025 in Austin.The Texas Capitol seen on Monday June 30, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/tribcast-texas-special-session-thc/This week, we run an emergency episode to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott vetoing Texas THC ban and calling a special session. Will redistricting end up on the agenda?By Matthew WatkinsMon, 23 Jun 2025 15:30:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/tribcast-texas-special-session-thc/Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick watches at the Capitol in Austin on April 23, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/tribcast-texas-legislature-wrapup/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk with politics reporter Jasper Scherer about education funding, a THC ban and the success of conservative priorities this year.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 27 May 2025 15:37:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/tribcast-texas-legislature-wrapup/The Texas House of Representatives debates and votes on bills on the House floor at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/tribcast-texas-legislature-affordable-housing/In this week’s episode, we discuss Texas’ rising home prices and the steps the Legislature is taking to reduce them.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 13 May 2025 16:12:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/13/tribcast-texas-legislature-affordable-housing/Suburban development south of Austin on Oct. 2, 2024.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-tribune-austin-monitor/This move will allow us to build on the Monitor's mission to serve a growing city with more expansive needs.By Ayan Mittra and Matthew WatkinsThu, 08 May 2025 08:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-tribune-austin-monitor/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-tribune-spring-member-drive-audience-survey/We’re sharing insights from our 2025 audience survey as we launch our Spring Member Drive.By Matthew WatkinsThu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/texas-tribune-spring-member-drive-audience-survey/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/tribcast-texas-lottery-couriers/In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Tribune reporter Ayden Runnels about lottery couriers and whether a $95 million prize winner was legitimate.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 29 Apr 2025 15:43:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/tribcast-texas-lottery-couriers/Texas Lottery cards at a 7-Eleven in Central Austin on Feb. 20, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/27/texas-tribune-tme-awards/Tribune journalists were honored for coverage of the Texas-Mexico border, design and photography.By Matthew WatkinsSun, 27 Apr 2025 15:12:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/27/texas-tribune-tme-awards/Impact, Recognition and Awardshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/tribcast-texas-teachers/In this week’s episode of the TribCast, Matthew and Eleanor ask the question: Are Texas teachers OK?By Matthew WatkinsTue, 15 Apr 2025 15:34:37 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/tribcast-texas-teachers/Substitute teacher Karie Houchin reads to a second grade classroom at Wanke Elementary School in north San Antonio on March 9, 2012.Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/john-thornton-texas-tribune-founder/Thornton conceived of a nonprofit news enterprise to engage Texans with their government, and then launched an industry of similar outlets across the country. He died March 29.By Matthew Watkins and Natalie ChoateTue, 01 Apr 2025 11:13:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/john-thornton-texas-tribune-founder/John Thornton, co-founder of The Texas Tribune, speaks at TribFeast in Austin on Sept. 24, 2022.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/tribcast-covid-public-health-measles/On the fifth anniversary of the start of the COVID pandemic, we discuss the measles outbreak and the state’s ability to respond to health crises.By Matthew WatkinsTue, 18 Mar 2025 13:43:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/14/tribcast-covid-public-health-measles/